Overview
- Woodruff told reporters on Saturday that he will have surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, a procedure that ends his 2026 season.
- Imaging showed the same capsule damage that required surgery in October 2023, and Woodruff had a cyst drained from the same shoulder in May before the problems returned.
- When healthy this year he was effective, posting a 2.98 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings across nine starts.
- His previous capsule repair required about 20 months of rehab, so teams and commentators say a lengthy, uncertain recovery is likely and could push his return well into 2027 or later, though exact timing is not yet known.
- The Brewers now lose a veteran rotation leader and mentor, face short-term pitching depth questions ahead of the trade deadline, and confront uncertainty about whether Woodruff will re-sign while rehabbing as he enters free agency.